The LA-based songwriter Jeremy Elliot recently released his debut single, “The Deep End.” In support of this track, Jeremy performed in Washington, D.C. on 10/11 (Silence the Violence Benefit w/ Katy Perry, Norah Jones and Mavis Staples) and a headlining free show at Rockwood Music Hall in New York City.

“‘The Deep End'” is a song about taking a chance and jumping right in,” Elliot explains. “It’s about catching feelings for a stranger off of a shared glance across a crowded room… and that glance turning into a night that you never forget. It’s about the possibility that in any second, your life could change forever. And to me, that’s the best part of the whole ride.”

Years of cultivating his songwriting while playing around NYC’s rock club scene would lead Jeremy Elliot to LA in his early 20s. Soon after his arrival, a chance encounter with one of the world’s biggest producers & songwriters, Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd, would lead Jeremy to write songs for Trey Songz, Matt Nathanson and Justin Bieber – the latter of whom’s multi-platinum album Purpose earned Elliot a GRAMMY nomination. With continued support from Poo Bear, Elliot eventually added producer DannyBoyStyles (The Weeknd, Beyonce) among others to guide him as he prepared his debut project.

I’ll be honest with you, my life
has been pretty crazy lately! Since I released my debut single “The Deep End,”
my life has been non-stop rehearsals, and press. We also recently shot the
music video, and I’ve been working in the studio on my debut LP. That’s why
I’ve really focused on grounding into some self care routines like working out,
meditation, and making sure my diet is on point. I’ve even been practicing
periods of fasting to sharpen my mind during the crazier times. With every day
feeling like a new adventure, that foundation has been a huge key for my physical,
emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Now that we are in the latter half of the year, how has 2019 treated you? What are some goals that you have had for yourself this year? How close are you to reaching them or did you already? What are you already looking forward to in 2020?

2019 has been the greatest year of
my life so far. My goal going into this year was the same as it’s been since I
moved from New York to Los Angeles – to release my own original music. Now, I
can say I’ve heard my music on the radio, performed for a theater of over 3,000
people, and best of all, got to cry on the phone as my Mom told me how proud
she was of me for chasing my dreams.

Heading into 2020, my hunger to
release more music and play more shows has intensified a thousandfold. I can
genuinely say that my goals for myself have never been higher and that I’ve
never been more confident in my ability to reach and surpass them.

Was there ever a time when you thought about doing something else? If you weren’t a musician today, what else could you see yourself doing? Would you be as fulfilled in life?

You know, I gave up playing music
for a few years when addiction and emotional turmoil overtook my life. And
honestly, those were some of the darkest years of my life. The reality is that
music is more than a career for me. Music is my outlet. It is the way that I
understand the world around me and the pain that I’ve been through. It allows
me to turn that pain into something beautiful. It is my healing, my church, and
my primary means of expression. As crazy as this “job” can be — and I feel
weird even calling it that — I remain grateful everyday that I get to wake up
and make music.

What has been the biggest surprise so far about making music your career? What has been an unexpected or welcome challenge to it all? What has been the best part about it all?

I feel like a lot of people who
don’t make music think that music is an easier job than a 9 to 5. I never
subscribed to that, but I will tell you that since I moved to LA to focus on my
music full time, I’ve learned that succeeding and sustaining success in a music
career may be harder than any other job out there. You have to work thousands
and thousands of unpaid hours, be your own biggest advocate and fan, and focus
on music so totally that it may very well may threaten some of the most
important relationships in your life. But if making music is what you were put
on Earth to do, then at the end of the day, that grind, that hustle, really the
entire journey, is the best part.

Let’s talk about your debut single, “The Deep End.” What was the inspiration for this track?

“The Deep End” is the culmination
of my lifelong journey. The end of the first chapter, and the start of the
next. It’s a song about one night, but also about every moment, risk, and
leap of faith that got me here. It’s how you feel when you stand at the center
of Death Valley, or stare into the eyes of a stranger you might just be falling
in love with. Free, uninhibited, and totally, completely limitless.

Do you have plans to plans to release more new music soon?

Look out because in 2020 I’ve got A LOT more music coming. I’m currently hard at work finishing my debut LP, and working with my Executive Producer/band-mate/big brother DannyBoyStyles to pick the next single.

What do you think you learned from working with Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd on Justin Bieber’s multi-platinum album, “Purpose”?

Being able to work with Poo on
Justin’s biggest album to date was one of the greatest experiences of my life.
We used to say that I was a fully enrolled member of the Poo Bear School of
Songwriting. We would work extensively in the studio, crafting countless
demos, and spending quality time driving around LA going on adventures. To this
day, Poo’s guidance and genius around melodies, song structure, and
“can’t-get-it-out-of-your-head” hooks inspires me in every song that I
write.

What musicians would you absolutely still love to work with in the future?

Thankfully I’ve already been blessed to work with a lot of my heroes. I’ve already got a dream team of producers and musicians creating with me on these tracks and the upcoming LP. I’m excited for you guys to hear what we all do together. But I’ll admit that despite no longer songwriting with other artists full time, there are still a lot of amazing artists who inspire me and I hope to create with. People like Post Malone, Azul Wynter, Turiya Dawn, Saint JHN, Sebastian Reynoso, Tyla Yaweh, Celeste, Jazz Lazr, Lanz Pierce, Sasha Sirota, Monet Belle, Travis Barker, Jack Antonoff, Maty Noyes and Jim Adkins…

Plus I’ve still got my bucket list
“Holy Trinity”:

Sing “Hunger Strike” with Eddie Vedder, write a song with Bob Dylan and start a record label / entertainment company with Richard Branson

If you could design your dream music video right now, what would it look like?

Check out the music video for “The
Deep End” – that’s as close to my dream music video as it gets! If anything, my
dream is to make a full visual accompaniment to my debut LP, but I don’t want
to give too much of that away.

Where would you love to hear a song of yours played?

Honestly, anyone who listens to my
music anywhere is already helping to make my dream come true. But if you’re
pressing me, I’d say the day that I get to sing my songs at Madison Square
Garden in front of my hometown, and hear the entire arena signing my words
along with me, that would probably be the answer.

At the end of the day, what do you hope people take away from your music?

Beyond any genre, beyond any sound,
and beyond any song, I make music to heal. Before anyone even hears my music, I
need them to understand that. From the very first second that someone hears my
music, I want them to feel the urgency, authenticity, and passion behind every
word that I sing. I make music to heal myself, my friends and family, and the
people around me. That’s what I was put here on earth to do. I’m so grateful
for every and anyone who takes the time to step into my world. I make this
music for us, and I couldn’t do any of it without them.

About the Author

Leah Brungardt joined All Access Music Group in August 2011 and has been enjoying getting to know a new side of the music industry ever since. Having worked to promote radio stations in the past, seeing what makes a successful radio hit has been a thrill. As a lover of all genres of music, working at All Access Music Group is a perfect fit for Leah, and she loves learning about up and coming musicians as well. Most of her friends have come to rely on her for new music.